In a close encounter with Tiverton Squash Club first team, Sidmouth were defeated, as in last year’s competition, in the final game of the final rubber to be edged out three ties to two!

Late replacement and club captain Rob Cann opened with a straight games defeat to Tivvy number five Alistair King, whilst on the adjacent court Paul Clare got the better of fellow fourth string Gerry Batten 3-1 in a rubber that saw Clare enjoy the majority of good fortune.

The following two games on court were again shared, Alick Russell coming from two games down to defeat Tiverton top string Sean Gunn 3-2 and Paul Symington losing in the deciding fifth game, despite having looked the victor in the early games.

The final and deciding rubber brought together Sidmouth’s Nigel Desousa and Tivertons Ian Jolly.

In a repeat of the deciding match in the 2011 shield final the match ended in an identical result. Desousa took the first and third games to lead 2-1 before Jolly took full advantage of a tiring opponent to take the final two games.

For the fourth year in succession Sidmouth finished just outside the promotion places in fourth, whilst the racketball team went one better than last year finishing second from bottom.

Thanks go to Signs South West for providing the club shirts this season and Lynette and the staff at The Black Horse for sponsorship and the excellent after match meals.

Just when Exeter City fans were maybe beginning to lose heart, the Grecians last Saturday won their second game in a row beating Wimbledon 3-2 at home and stretched their unbeaten run to three games, writes Gareth Hughes.